Support assembly for servicing a stator frame that uses spring assemblies to support a stator core

Abstract

A support assembly for servicing a stator frame of a power generator includes a plurality of rails and a trolley. The rails are supported on frame rings of a main housing of the stator frame. The rails have upper surfaces that provide temporary support for lower support surfaces of second laminations of a second stator core once the second laminations are inserted into desired axial positions within the main housing. The trolley is provided for axial movement on the upper surfaces of the rails for inserting the second laminations into the main housing. The trolley includes a lamination-engaging portion including a lamination support surface for supporting upper support surfaces of the second laminations and a plurality of rail wheels provided for axial movement of the trolley within the main housing on the upper surfaces of the rails.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A support assembly for servicing a stator frame of a power generator, the stator frame including a main housing having a first end and an axially spaced apart second end and supporting a stator core formed by a plurality of laminations that have grooves formed in outer surfaces thereof for receiving respective axially extending keybars to couple the keybars to the laminations, the stator frame further including a plurality of spring assemblies comprising spring members affixed to frame rings of the main housing, spacer blocks for providing a gap between the laminations of the stator core and the spring members, and fastening hardware that is used to attach the keybars provided in the grooves of the laminations to the spring members so as to structurally support the stator core within the main housing, the support assembly comprising:
 a plurality of rails supported on the frame rings of the main housing and extending axially within a bottom portion of the main housing, the rails having upper surfaces that provide temporary support for lower support surfaces of second laminations of a second stator core once the second laminations are inserted into desired axial positions within the main housing; 
 a backstop structure affixed to the main housing to provide axial positioning for the second laminations of the second stator core within the main housing; and 
 a trolley provided for axial movement on the upper surfaces of the rails for inserting the second laminations into the main housing, the trolley comprising:
 a lamination-engaging portion including a lamination support surface for supporting upper support surfaces of the second laminations; 
 a plurality of rail wheels provided for axial movement of the trolley within the main housing on the upper surfaces of the rails; and 
 at least one counterweight provided to stabilize the trolley while at least one second lamination is supported on the trolley. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the rails are removably installed in the main housing, such that after the second laminations of the second stator core are all installed and secured within the main housing, the rails can be detached from the frame rings and removed from the main housing while still preserving an intended use of the stator frame. 
     
     
       3. The support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the trolley further comprises a dial indicator to assist in correctly positioning at least one second lamination on the trolley. 
     
     
       4. The support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the rail wheels comprise front rail wheels and rear rail wheels spaced apart from the front rail wheels in the axial direction. 
     
     
       5. The support assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the rear rail wheels are movable from rail engaging positions when inside the main housing to floating positions when outside of the main housing. 
     
     
       6. The support assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one deck wheel provided for axial movement of the trolley outside of the main housing on a floor surface. 
     
     
       7. The support assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one deck wheel is vertically movable to accommodate floor surfaces of different heights relative to the rails. 
     
     
       8. The support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the backstop structure comprises at least one structural member affixed at the second end of the main housing, the at least one structural member spanning an opening at the second end of the main housing such that the second laminations of the second stator core do not fall out of the opening at the second end of the main housing when they are being installed. 
     
     
       9. A support assembly for servicing a stator frame of a power generator, the stator frame including a main housing having a first end and an axially spaced apart second end and supporting a stator core formed by a plurality of laminations that have grooves formed in outer surfaces thereof for receiving respective axially extending keybars to couple the keybars to the laminations, the stator frame further including a plurality of spring assemblies comprising spring members affixed to frame rings of the main housing, spacer blocks for providing a gap between the laminations of the stator core and the spring members, and fastening hardware that is used to attach the keybars provided in the grooves of the laminations to the spring members so as to structurally support the stator core within the main housing, the support assembly comprising:
 a plurality of rails supported on the frame rings of the main housing and extending axially within a bottom portion of the main housing, the rails having upper surfaces that provide temporary support for lower support surfaces of second laminations of a second stator core once the second laminations are inserted into desired axial positions within the main housing; and 
 a trolley provided for axial movement on the upper surfaces of the rails for inserting the second laminations into the main housing, the trolley comprising:
 a lamination-engaging portion including a lamination support surface for supporting upper support surfaces of the second laminations; 
 a plurality of rail wheels provided for axial movement of the trolley within the main housing on the upper surfaces of the rails; and 
 at least one deck wheel provided for axial movement of the trolley outside of the main housing on a floor surface. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , further comprising a backstop structure affixed to the main housing to provide axial positioning for the second laminations of the second stator core within the main housing. 
     
     
       11. The support assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the backstop structure comprises at least one structural member affixed at the second end of the main housing, the at least one structural member spanning an opening at the second end of the main housing such that the second laminations of the second stator core do not fall out of the opening at the second end of the main housing when they are being inserted into the main housing. 
     
     
       12. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the rails are removably installed in the main housing, such that after the second laminations of the second stator core are all installed and secured within the main housing, the rails can be detached from the frame rings and removed from the main housing while still preserving an intended use of the stator frame. 
     
     
       13. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the trolley further comprises:
 a dial indicator to assist in correctly positioning at least one second lamination on the trolley. 
 
     
     
       14. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the rail wheels comprise front rail wheels and rear rail wheels spaced apart from the front rail wheels in the axial direction, wherein the rear rail wheels are movable from rail engaging positions when in the main housing to floating positions when out of the main housing. 
     
     
       15. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one deck wheel is vertically movable to accommodate floor surfaces of different heights relative to the rails. 
     
     
       16. The support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the trolley further comprises:
 at least one counterweight provided to stabilize the trolley while at least one second lamination is supported on the trolley. 
 
     
     
       17. A support assembly for servicing a stator frame of a power generator, the stator frame including a main housing having a first end and an axially spaced apart second end and supporting a stator core formed by a plurality of laminations that have grooves formed in outer surfaces thereof for receiving respective axially extending keybars to couple the keybars to the laminations, the stator frame further including a plurality of spring assemblies comprising spring members affixed to frame rings of the main housing, spacer blocks for providing a gap between the laminations of the stator core and the spring members, and fastening hardware that is used to attach the keybars provided in the grooves of the laminations to the spring members so as to structurally support the stator core within the main housing, the support assembly comprising:
 a plurality of rails supported on the frame rings of the main housing and extending axially within a bottom portion of the main housing, the rails having upper surfaces that provide temporary support for lower support surfaces of second laminations of a second stator core once the second laminations are inserted into desired axial positions within the main housing; 
 a backstop structure affixed to the main housing to provide axial positioning for the second laminations of the second stator core within the main housing, the backstop structure comprising at least one structural member affixed at the second end of the main housing, the at least one structural member spanning an opening at the second end of the main housing such that the second laminations of the second stator core do not fall out of the opening at the second end of the main housing when they are being inserted into the main housing; and 
 a trolley provided for axial movement on the upper surfaces of the rails for inserting the second laminations into the main housing, the trolley comprising:
 a lamination-engaging portion including a lamination support surface for supporting upper support surfaces of the second laminations; and 
 a plurality of rail wheels provided for axial movement of the trolley within the main housing on the upper surfaces of the rails. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The support assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the rail wheels comprise front rail wheels and rear rail wheels spaced apart from the front rail wheels in the axial direction; and 
 only the rear rail wheels are movable from rail engaging positions when in the main housing to floating positions when out of the main housing. 
 
     
     
       19. The support assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the trolley further comprises at least one deck wheel provided for axial movement of the trolley outside of the main housing on a floor surface, the at least one deck wheel being vertically movable to accommodate floor surfaces of different heights relative to the rails. 
     
     
       20. The support assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the rails are removably installed in the main housing, such that after the second laminations of the second stator core are all installed and secured within the main housing, the rails can be detached from the frame rings and removed from the main housing while still preserving an intended use of the stator frame.